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The Tiffin University baseball team won 17-16 against the Cedarville Yellow Jackets in conference play.
The Dragons improve to 14-6 overall and 9-4 in the conference, while the Yellow Jackets fell to 9-12 overall and 6-7 in conference play.
Game 1:
The visitors struck first in the top of the first inning as Eeles was walked and stole all the way to third, then Rotello grounded out to first base to bring in Eeles to lead 1-0.
Tiffin was held scoreless for two innings until they scored four runs off five hits in the third inning. Kyle Vance started the inning with a single to center field, then the next two batters hit bunts to get on base to load the bases. Danny Donnelly came to the plate and hit a double down the left field line to score Jake Shier and Vance. Then, Griffin Stevens flied out to the second baseman to allow Tommy Thamann to score, and Nich Green singled up the middle to score Donnelly from third to lead 4-1.
Vance started the fourth inning with a walk. Shier then singled through the left side to put runners on first and second, then a sacrifice bunt by Thamann advanced the runners to second and third. Danny Donnelly came to the plate and hit a single to right field to score Vance. Tim Orr came to the plate with the bases loaded and got walked to score and lead the Yellow Jackets 6-1.
The Dragons added to their lead in the fifth inning, scoring four more as Vance singled up the middle to score Campbell from second. Thamann hit a bunt single and advanced to second on a throwing error by the pitcher to score Vance. Donnelly hit a single to left field to score Shier from third and Thamann from second to lead 10-1.
The Yellow Jackets scored a run off two hits in the top of the sixth to cut into the Dragons lead 10-2. But the Dragons' bats were on fire as Thamann hit a three run home run to lead 13-2.
The Yellow Jackets' offense exploded in the top of the seventh, scoring eight runs on seven hits with no errors to cut the Dragons lead down to 13-10.
The Dragons added to their lead, scoring two more in the seventh and two in the eighth to lead 17-10. However, Cedarville rallied in the top of the ninth and scored six more runs but it was not enough to send the game to extra innings and the Dragons won 17-16.
Michael Boswell got the win for Tiffin as he allowed only two runs, four hits and struck out seven of the 23 batters faced. Jake Monnin got the save striking out the last batter in the game to seal the 17-16 win.
The Dragons' offense was on fire as five players hit .500 or better today as Jake Shier led the way, going 3-for-3 scoring four runs and one RBI. Danny Donnelly had a day as he went 4-for-5, scored two runs and had a team-high five RBI, and Tommy Thamann went 3-for-5 at the plate, scored three runs, and tallied four RBI.
Game two was halted due to lack of sunlight at the top of the sixth inning and will resume on Monday.